The Hard Riders Anthology is a collection of three short stories with a similar twist. All of these books include sexy men who are part of motorcycle gangs and skirt the edges between ‘bad boy’ and ‘almost a criminal’. It is a fine line! I received one copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Read on for more information about each of these stories, their authors, and my take on this anthology!
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Hard Riders Anthology
Welcome to LM Somerton, one of the authors who took part in the Hard Riders Anthology . Thank you for visiting Nautical Star Books on this blog tour !
Biker Slang by LM Somerton
Doing the research for Mantrap, my story in the Hard Riders Anthology, was really interesting. I generally enjoy the research part of the writing process, but it can be distracting and take up a disproportionate amount of time when I find a topic that is intriguing. One such topic was biker slang. Most sub-cultures have their own jargon, but bikers have a huge range of phrases and words that add to the mystique for an outsider trying to work out what it all means. I thought I’d share a few of my favourite phrases and their meanings, (some of which have been used in my story) though I should say that these should not be taken as gospel. I’ve used one source for consistency, so credit has to go the One Off Biker website (http://oneoffbiker.com/biker-slang) for one of the more extensive lists that I could find.
1%er (One Percenter): If 99% of motorcycle riders are law-abiding members of society, these are the other 1%. Advertised through a patch or tattoo, usually on a diamond shaped backfield.
The Wyverns MC, the club in my story fits into this category. They are definitely not law abiding!
Ape Hangers: high handlebars rising above the rider’s shoulders. The rider assumes a posture reminiscent of an ape hanging from a branch.
Not the kind of bikes ridden by The Wyverns, but a great image.
Farkle: doo-dads, kitsch, add-ons that serve no useful purpose. One or two farkles are ok (flags, stuffed pigs, etc.) but don’t overdo it.
I need to adopt this word in everyday conversation! No member of The Wyverns would be seen dead with any farkle on his bike.
Iron Butt: motorcycle run, which covers 1,000 miles in 24 hours
I couldn’t resist putting this one in – it conjures up all kinds of interesting images.
Organ Donor: slang for a biker that doesn’t wear a helmet.
No further comment needed!
And finally, I couldn’t resist this one…
Sissy Bar: high passenger backrest.
Okay, it wasn’t as interesting as it sounded.
Another term I came across frequently was “squid biker”. I couldn’t imagine what this might mean or where it has originated, but it’s apparently used to describe a motorcycle rider who lacks common sense. This will be in relation to their display of riding skills, lack of suitable motorcycle protection gear, or often both.
The squid slang is also used to describe the similarity in looks between a crashed motorcycle rider who was not wearing the correct protective attire and the squid sea creature. Disgusting!
Squid are a danger firstly to themselves, but also to any other motorcycle riders who they are with. Squid bikers also portray a very negative image of motorcycle riders in general and would not be tolerated by MC Clubs – ironic considering that their own reputations are often less than positive!
These are amusing examples, but there is a serious side to “counter language”. It has hidden meaning, it suggests ‘putting one over’ on the law, it is a deliberately separatist tool. While mainstream society places some value on being law-abiding, the biker sub-culture of The Wyverns puts it on rebellious lawlessness. Read Mantrap and you’ll find out why.
Blurb for Hard Riders:
Clear Blue Sky by Jenna Byrnes
Respect all, fear none is the Rebel Riders Motorcycle Club’s motto. Will the Riders step up when the Demon Outlaws go after one of their own?
Sky Warren doesn’t let the screen door smack him on the way out of Kansas. When his former abusive partner Duke is arrested for selling drugs, Sky takes off. He’s ready for a clean start and a change of scenery. Moving to Lakewood, Colorado, with his cousin and accepting a job in Billy’s bike shop seems like just what he needs to start over. In Billy’s riding club he meets Task Rivers, a handsome, sexy biker, and they hit it off immediately. Task is edgy, yet he shows Sky how a respectful and considerate man treats his partner. The two fall into a lusty, passionate relationship.
Mantrap by L.M. Somerton
Not all cages have bars.
The Wyverns Motorcycle Club has a reputation as fierce as its dragon emblem. Its enigmatic leader, Rogue Hellaby, has a police file so thick you could prop up a table with it.
When Rogue receives an instruction to kidnap and hold hostage the son of a powerful drug lord, he doesn’t bat an eyelid. But Rogue has never had to deal with a captive like Orlando de la Pena. Orlando is furious—not because he’s being held prisoner, but because he’s prevented from partying at his favorite BDSM club. Rogue discovers that the only way to deal with Orlando is to become the Dom he so obviously needs. But Orlando’s father wants him back, and The Wyverns must face a battle that could cost them their lives.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of light BDSM.
Biking Bad by Morticia Knight
When Dylan, a young wannabe investigator, stumbles into the Mojave Sidewinder’s MC bar, he finds all kinds of trouble—especially in biker Luc ‘Zero’ Villarojas.
The Mojave Sidewinders is the largest gay MC club in Southern California. They’re also one-percenters, which makes them alluring to those looking for trouble and a danger to those making it. Luc ‘Zero’ Villarojas has been a brother ever since the club’s prez took him in as a runaway. At thirty-four years of age, he’s content to ride his hog, chase tail and run his tattoo and piercing parlor, Zero to Sixty.
Working his first big case involving a missing young man, Dylan barges into Road Rage, the Mojave Sidewinder’s exclusive bar, and starts asking questions. When it looks as though he’s about to get beaten up, a large, muscled biker covered in ink comes to his aid. Dylan’s incredibly attracted to him—even if Zero is pretty scary and Dylan’s still a virgin. But is there something Zero knows about the missing man that he’s hiding? And is Dylan in more danger than he realises?
Like the sound of Hard Riders? Buy it here.
My Review:
The one thing all of these books had in common was the inclusion of main characters in motorcycle gangs. All of these gangs skirted the lines between right and wrong. They were all generally good men who understood that sometimes you had to do slightly shady things to ensure justice and peace.
In Clear Blue Sky by Jenna Byrnes I really loved Sky’s determination and grit in getting out of an abusive relationship. He stands up to Duke with a little help from his new friends. Task was attentive and protective, ensuring that Sky stayed out of harm’s way. It was a very sexy read and definitely a ‘lust at first site’ sort of story. I would have liked the two characters to get to know each other a bit more before jumping into bed together but it was an enjoyable story.
Mantrap by LM Somerton was my favorite story in the Hard Riders Anthology. The writing flowed smoothly and the story just grabbed me from the beginning. Rogue seemed like a genuinely good guy who, unfortunately, was stuck doing some unsavory things for people higher up in the food chain than him. I loved Orlando’s grit and spunk. Bottom he may be but nobody pushes that boy around unless he asks them to! Really loved these two characters together and would enjoy seeing more of them!
Biking Bad by Morticia Knight is the third book in the Hard Riders Anthology. Dylan was determined to succeed in his PI investigation but as inexperienced as he was it was good that Rogue had his back. Rogue was confused as to why he couldn’t get Dylan out of his mind. Having never been interested in any guy beyond a quick orgasm his new emotional attachment left him rather puzzled. There was just enough of a plot in solving Dylan’s case to keep the book interested and I enjoyed the happily ever after that Dylan and Rogue got at the end of the book.
Overall, the Hard Riders Anthology is a nice set of stories, especially if you have a thing for motorcycles!
Meet the Authors
About Jenna Byrnes:
Jenna Byrnes could use more cabinet space and more hours in a day. She’d fill the kitchen with gadgets her husband purchases off TV and let him cook for her to his heart’s content. She’d breeze through the days adding hours of sleep, and more time for writing the hot, erotic romance she loves to read.
About LM Somerton:
Lucinda lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.
About Morticia Knight:
M/M and M/M/F Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys a good saucy tale – after all, who doesn’t? Since she loves several genres, you may find your heroes in a contemporary, historical, paranormal or sci-fi setting. One of her passions is bringing people’s fantasies to life on the page, because life is too short for even one boring moment. Her stories are volcanic in heat, deep in emotion, and sprinkled with doses of humor.
Follow the Tour
Want to see what other book blogs are saying about the Hard Riders Anthology? Follow the tour at the dates and and places listed in the graphic below!
Jenna Byrnes says
Great post LM, loved the slang. I wouldn’t have ridden without my sissy bar, LOL
Thanks for hosting the Hard Riders today on the blog tour!
Devan Huff says
Great read and as a motorcyclist myself I loved the biker slang…but am not actually a fan of sissy bars 🙂
Morticia Knight says
Thanks for hosting us today and for the wonderful review! 😉
Devan Huff says
I really enjoyed the story! And I loved the biker slang!